Maa Jwala is the manifestation of goddess Sati whose main shrine is located in district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh. According to Hindu mythology, Sati also known as Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva when plunged into the sacrificial fire (when her father insulted Lord Shiva) outraged Lord Shiva who then holding Sati’s body began stalking the three worlds. Lord Vishnu then severed Sati’s body in to 51 pieces to save the earth from the wrath of Shiva, which fell at 51 places to make fifty one shaktipeeths (Shakti’s holy places). Jawalaji is one of these 51 shaktipeeths where goddess Sati’s tongue fell represented by holy eternal flames. In this temple there is no idol of any kind but a square shaped three feet deep pit with a path all way round. The flaming fissures are considered as the fiery mouth of the goddess whose headless body is said to be in the temples of the Bhawan. Maa Jwala is the Kula Devi of Parmar’s, Bhandari’s, Miyan’s and the people residing in the vicinity of village Chanahlag in Tehsil Pacchad, District Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh.
The history of making of temple of Maa Jwala in Chanahlag dates back to the Gurkha invasion of Sirmaur Riyasat before 1815. At that time Bhandari Ram Singh and his younger brother Bhandari Sahaj Ram (descendants of Sidhu Pawar, the first forefather of the Parmar-Bhandari clan) along with their families lived in village Chanahlag. Bhandari Ram Singh was the caretaker of the agricultural land of Lana Baka and adjoining areas that belonged to the Maharaja of Sirmaur. On seeing the Gurkha invaders coming up the hill, Bhandari Ram Singh and the other men of the village decided that the younger brother Sahaj Ram would leave the village along with the children and women to a safer place and the elder brother Ram Singh along with the other men will stay back and stop the Gurkha’s from taking over the village. The younger brother along with the children and women left the village and camped in a small hamlet named Dalheri from where part of the Chanahlag village was visible. By mid day the Gurkha forces reached the village and attacked it. By evening after losing many men to Ram Singh’s soldiers the Gurkha’s were successful in breaking open the main entrance to the garh (fort) before calling it off for the day. The next morning when the Gurkha soldiers went in search of water, Ram Singh and his men ambushed and killed the Gurkha soldiers. When the Gurkha soldiers did not return the Gurkha commander attacked the enemy from two sides. The Gurkha’s who had a large force outnumbered Ram Singh and his men and after a prolonged fight were successful in annexing the village and capturing the soldiers of Ram Singh but could not capture Ram Singh. Though, Ram Singh was badly wounded he fought bravely till dusk. He was finally surrounded by the enemy on the small hillock situated within the village on the south western side from where he jumped down to a cliff 15 meters below. While jumping Ram Singh vowed that if he survived he would construct a temple of the Kula Devi Maa Jwala of Nagar Koti in the village which until now was worshipped in the open under a tree since the time of the Sidhu Pawar (1750 AD). Though Ram Singh survived the jump he was captured by the Gurkha forces. The Gurkha commander seeing Bhandari Ram Singh’s bravery released him and his men and even left the village.
The younger brother Sahaj Ram and other family members waiting anxiously at Dalheri had already vowed to build a temple of Kula Devi in this hamlet if the elder brother survived during the battle. The younger brother on getting the victory news returned to the village with children and women. After their reunion, in 1815 the elder brother built a temple in the centre of the village where the worship of Maa Jwala of Nagar Koti was being done under a tree whereas, the younger brother built a Mandir at Dalheri.
The Mandir built by Ram Singh was 5×5 cubits (a cubit is equal to one arm length) i.e. about 7½ x 7½ feet long and wide with 9 inches thick walls. The height inside the centre of the temple was 8 feet and its total height was 11 feet. The Mandir was built in simple stone masonry and its roof was dome shaped. The temple at Dalheri was identical in shape and size to the temple at Chanahlag.